Microlight

Twoplanesin sky,thenone disappeared

More than 60 mountain rescue volunteers joined emergency services to hunt for a mystery aircraft spotted going down in Cambusbarron woodland on one of the coldest winter days for years.

And despite spending hours searching in freezing temperatures – which dipped as low as minus-7 Celsius on Monday morning – teams were sent home when the operation was called off and found to be a false alarm.

Police, fire crews, paramedics and search and rescue helicopters were initially scrambled to the scene shortly after 4pm on Sunday after two separate motorists travelling on the M80 reported seeing a microlight descending into the woods.

With light dying and darkness fast approaching emergency crews knew they had to act quickly, and the area’s three mountain rescue teams – Ochil, Killin and Lomond – were also drafted in to help.

Seven separate search teams, along with two search dogs from SARDA Southern Scotland, started scouring the woodland while police and coastguard helicopters flew over the area in complete darkness.

Inspector Morris Lindsay said at the time: “Police resources have been supplemented by staff from the Fire and Rescue Service, Scottish Ambulance Service and mountain rescue volunteers in the search.

“An aerial search has been carried out by the Police Scotland helicopter and now ground searches are underway.”

As the operation was ongoing members of the public were warned to

An aerial search

Base Emergency crews set themselves up near Touch Business Centre Control centre Volunteers and emergency crews were acting on reports from members of the public

Mammoth task Miles of woodland were combed through in a bid to locate the mystery aircraft